FA bans City’s Barry for one match

Manchester City midfielder Gareth Barry has been banned for one match after admitting a Football Association charge of using abusive and/or insulting words to an official.

The 31-year-old "reluctantly" accepted the punishment after the charge arose from an incident after City on Sunday.

"Manchester City’s Gareth Barry will serve a one-match suspension with immediate effect after admitting a breach of FA Rule E3 in that he used abusive and/or insulting words towards a match official following his side’s match against Manchester United on Sunday 9 December 2012," said the FA’s statement.

"Also as part of the standard penalty for this offence, Barry has been fined £8,000."

In posting the statement on their website City said "both the club and Gareth Barry reluctantly accept the punishment which leads to Gareth being unavailable to take part in the weekend’s match against Newcastle."

Barry will be available for selection again for the home game against Reading on December 22.

Barry has started 15 of the last 17 matches both domestically and in the Champions League and plays a vital part in the defensive balance of the side.

Having lost to United, Mancini’s side are now six points adrift of their nearest rivals and only four ahead of third-placed Chelsea.

They have taken five points from a possible 12 and need to get back to winning ways at St James’ Park against a Newcastle team who have won just once in 10 matches.

City captain Vincent Kompany has rejected suggestions the team suffered a psychological blow in their derby defeat and insists the players’ outlook has not altered.

United defender Patrice Evra claimed they now had the mental edge after Sunday’s win at the Etihad Stadium, City’s first home league defeat in almost two years.

Kompany brushed that off, however, and stressed the squad was focusing on this weekend’s trip to Newcastle.

"I don’t know anything about psychological blows," he said. "Losing on Sunday changes nothing. We lost and we move on to the next game.

"The beauty of football is that you are always challenged, whether you have lost or won, and the next game is always the most important. We all know the importance of the (Newcastle) game but I don’t do very well in bad-scenario thinking.

"For me there are so many positives that can happen if we win that game. I can’t think of the other side of that coin. We have done it many times before and we need to get back in that mindset. If we do that, good things will come for us.

"Newcastle away is just as difficult as the game we had on Sunday but nothing comes easy in the Premier League. It’s a difficult game for us but it’s also a tough one for Newcastle as well."

Kompany is a doubt for the trip to St James’ Park after sustaining a groin injury against United.

"Three days after the injury is a little bit too early to call," he told the Manchester Evening News.

"It’s a difficult one. I went off because I felt something, so we will see how long it takes me." Fellow defender Micah Richards is currently recovering from a longer-term problem but hopes to return by early February.

The 24-year-old tore the meniscus in his right knee and underwent surgery in October, but is gradually making progress in his rehabilitation.

"I am not putting a date on when I will be back because these things are never exact, but I am hoping it will be in early February," he told mcfc.co.uk. "There is still not too much I can do but I am now on one crutch instead of two so that is progress, the injury is responding and the knee getting stronger every day."

In the lingering gloom of their derby defeat, City have been boosted midfielder Yaya Toure declaring he wants to see out the remainder of his career at the club.

The Ivory Coast international has become a hugely influential figure in Roberto Mancini’s side since arriving from Barcelona in the summer of 2010.

"Nobody knows what the next step is in football but this is where I want to be," the 29-year-old said. "I believe I have to work harder all the time to improve and stay at the top level with this club.

"I want to continue winning titles and trophies with City. I believe we are just at the beginning of our journey. Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to finish my career as a Manchester City player."